I just got my DA 50 and flew it only 7 times now I discovered that the ignition lead has the outer sheilding fraying due to chaffing.

DO you guys wrap your ignition lead in Spiral wrap or protect it any other way?

I am stuck routing mine only one way but I don't want it to fray anymore.

If it looks like the plug wire has a possibility of rubbing on something, I'll go ahead and wrap it with thin foam and electrical tape if it can't be re-routed. Make sure that the lead doesn't come in contact with the cut edges of a fiberglass cowl. That will end any plug wire pretty darn quick.

DO NOT use any kind of metal wrap on the lead! Should it start banging against something else metal you will have more interference than you will know what to do with.

I wrap mine with spiral wrap. Radio Shack and the home improvement stores carry it. I prefer clear, but either is fine.

I use nylon spiral wrap and then the black plastic wire protecting split tubing. That tender plug wire is all that is between me and a big loss,, I take real good care of it!~)

JOe

I took some thick walled vinyl tubing and spiral cut it with #11 blade; made a nice thick protection cover. First run on a CH Ign and chafed just being in contact with some butter smooth VHMW.

Another trick is to tie wrap the lead to the part that it is going to bang against. By holding it firmly in place it won't be able to abraid the wire insulation.

-Ben

I use spiral wrap, split tubing and I also line the edge of the fiberglass cowl with some vinyl trimming/combing I got at my hobby shop.

Brian F**t, how about that foamy material that they spry to isolate window frames with the walls.

It's light wieght and good isolater.

any ideas?

I tie-wrap it to the fuse using a local foam pack, or anywhere else it may rub. Anything to keep that HT lead fron Harm.
A spiral wrap should be fine, if it is tight. Such a wrap also adds mass, which may induce extra vibratory loads on the lead.
The choice seems to be yours. Just as long as you take care and keep the lead secured.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I only wish I knew this stuff prior to my lead getting dorked up. I have sent the ignition module back to DA to get the braiding replaced. After I get it back I will heed all the advice I have recieved here. Thanks again!

It will be interesting...The cable and shielding are molded and crimped into the ignition, not readily replaceable....

This is how I shield the ignition cable, notice the silicon tubing wrapping the cable only on sections were is more likely to suffer damage mainly due to the proximity of cowl edges.
By the way I did not think about the spiral wrap, I think is a good idea too, I will try next time

Albatross,
What can you tell me about the swap in Waukesha this weekend? Is it worth making the 1.5 hour drive for?

Terry

SkyKing-RCU

Does not have the glamour of a big city RC event; however I think is worth to try. More details in your e-mail